Excavating and earth scattering machine



Feb. 10, 1953 G. DlOTTl 2,627,681

EXCAVATING AND EARTH SCATTERING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR G/A C/N'TO D/OTT/ AGENTS Feb. 10, 1953 G. DlOTTl 2,627,631

EXCAVATING AND EARTH SCATTERING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR G/AC/NTO D/OTT/ [n v k BY fluff-n la/Q 7C0? -i I AGENTS Feb. 10, 1953 G. DIOTTI EXCAVATING AND EARTH SCATTERING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 12, 1947 INVENTOR G/AC/NTO D/OTT/ BY Lab 6 AGLWTS Patented Feb. 10, 1953 EXCAVATING AND EARTH SCATTERING MACHINE Giacinto Diotti, Torviscosa, Italy Application December 12, 1947, Serial No. 791,337 In Italy December 4, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires December 4, 1963 3 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to machines for excavating drainage ditches and the like, and is particularly directed to an improved motor driven machine for excavating such ditches with sloping sidewalls and for ejecting or hurling the excavated earth to points remote from the excavated ditch or drain.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ditch digging or excavating machine of the de-- scribed character which is operative to excavate a ditch having smooth, sloping sidewalls while removing all of the earth from the excavated ditch so that the ditch is completed in a single operation. I

Another object is to provide a ditch digging machine of the described character which is capable of digging or excavating ditches of different depths and lateral dimensions.

Another object is to provide a ditch digging machine of the described character which is constructed and arranged so that the elements provided for digging the ditch and for removing the earth therefrom are securely supported to minimize the strains thereon and to thereby ensure a relatively long and trouble-free operating life.

In accordance with the present invention, a ditch digging machine capable of achieving the above objects includes a main frame which is suitably mounted for movement along the course of the projected'ditch or drain. A swingable frame is pivoted at one end on the main frame for swinging movement relative to the latter about a transverse axis. A horizontal shaft is rotatably mounted at its opposite ends on the swingable frame and. extends parallel to the swinging axis of the latter at a location spaced from that swinging axis. Two beveled oppositely directed worm sections of frusto-conical configuration are mounted on the horizontal shaft in axially spaced relationship with their larger threads being disposed toward the center and their small threads toward the ends of the shaft. Supporting sprockets are secured on the horizontal shaft between the worm sections and a continuous chain of excavating scoops is trained over the supporting sprockets and-over driving sprockets which are rotatably mounted at a location above the horizontal shaft. A shield-box is mounted on the swingable frame and includes a portion extending around the worm sections and opening below the horizontal shaft in the direction Of the feeding movement of the main frame to cut and smooth the walls of the excavated ditch and to push the excavated earth against the worm sections and the excavating scoops.

2 A screw conveyor member is mountedon the swingable frame at right angles to the horizontal shaft and is positioned to receive the excavated earth from the downwardly moving run of the chain of excavating scoopsan'd to deliver it to an earth ejecting device having a radial impeller rotating coaxially with the screw conveyor member. A movable member extends around a portion of the circumference of the impeller to define an outlet opening through which thev excavated earth is centrifugally ejected, and the movable member moves in the direction of the excavated earth emitted from the outlet opening'at least in the area of said opening. Further, mechanical means are provided on the main frame and swingable frame for eifecting oscillation of the latter to control the depth of the excavated ditch and to move the swingable frame between a working, lowered position and a non-working, raised position.

In order to promote understanding of the invention, an illustrative embodiment thereof is described in detail hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a ditch digging or excavating machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction in which the machine travels during the excavation'of a ditch;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the machine of Fig. 1, but viewed in the direction opposite to that of Fig. 2;

, Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine of Fig. 1; v

' Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5--5- of Fig. 1, and showing the details of an excavating unit included in the illustrated machine;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a swingable- Fig. 10 is a perspective, diagrammatic illustra-' tion of suitable drives which may be employed in the machine embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, a ditch excavating machine embodying the present invention is there illustrated and includes a rigid main frame I which is mounted on conventional caterpillar tracks 3 for movement either along the proposed ditch to be excavated or in transporting the excavating machine to the location at which such work is to be performed. The transverse distance between the tracks 3 is sufficient to permit the latter to straddle the ditch which is being excavated. The frame I, at one end portion thereof, carries a convention-a1 engine 2 which has a variable speed transmission i (Fig. 4) associated therewith for transmitting the power of the engine 2 to the tracks 3 by conventional mechanisms (not shown) and to the hereinafter described earth excavating and ejecting mechanism. Further, conventional steering controls 5 may be provided for guiding the machine during' its movement on the tracks 3.

The illustrated machine also includes aswin able frame 8 which is pivotally mounted on the end of the main frame I remote from the engine 2 for swinging movement about a horizontal, transverse axis. In order to effect such swingable mounting of the frame 8, the main frame I has bearings I thereon in which axially bored pivots 9, extending laterally from the frame 8, are journalled (Fig. 4). Swinging movement of frame 8 relative to the main frame 1 is achieved by a mechanical arrangement which includes a segmental rack I I (Fig. 6) mounted on the frame 8 concentric with the pivots S and meshing with a'spur gear In carried by a shaft I4 which is rotatably mounted on the main frame I. The shaft It is manually rotated, for example, by a hand wheel I2 (Figs. l and 6), with a gear box containing suitable gearing being interposed between the hand wheel !2 and the shaft I l.

The swingable frame 8 has bearings Il (Fig. 6) thereon at locations spaced from the swinging axis of the frame and rotatably supporting the opposite ends of a transversely extending shaft I 6. As seen in Figs. 5 and 7, two beveled, oppositely directed worm sections I5 of frustoconical configuration are mounted on the shaft P5 in axially spaced relationship and with their larger threads toward the center and their smallerthreads toward the outer ends of the shaft It. Replaceable cutting blades I3 are carried on the peripheral rims or edges of the worm sections IE to facilitate excavation of the earth. A pair of axially spaced apart sprockets I9 are fixed on the. central portion of the shaft l5 between the worm sections I5. A pair of relatively small. driving sprockets 2| are carried by a shaft 45' which is rotatably supported on the frame 8 at a location above the shaft It. Endless chains are trained over the sprocketsv I5 and over the driving sprockets. Z! and carry spaced excavating scoops. 28 which are provided with removable cutting edge members 29. The sprockets I9 are of a sufficient. diameter so that the cutting edgesof scoops 28, when the latter travel around thersprockets l9, follow an arcu atepath which has. substantially the same curvature as the large thread ends of the worm sections I5.

Referring to Fig. 10, a suitable assembly of conventional elements is there shown for driving the shaft 45' from the engine 2.. This drive assembly preferably includes a drive shaft 5 extending laterally from the transmission 4 and having a clutch Z3 interposed therein to be engaged or disengaged by manipulation of a control handle 2 (Figs. 2 and 4). Beyond the clutch 23, the shaft 6 is operatively connected to a shaft 22 by suitable meshing bevel gears 6a and 22a, and the shaft 22 extends longitudinally along one side of the main frame I toward the end of the latter on which the swingable frame 3 is pivotally mounted and there enters into a gear box 25. The shaft 22, within the gear box 25, has a bevel gear 2212 fixed thereon to mesh with a bevel gear 250: on the top of a downwardly extending shaft 25b, and the latter at its lower end carries a bevel gear 250. A shaft extends axially through the bores of the pivots 9 and is rotatable within the latter. At one end, the shaft 48 carries a bevel gear 45a meshing with the bevel gear 250 to be driven by the latter. .A bevel gear 452; is secured to the shaft 36 for rotation with the latter and meshes with a bevel gear 48a carried by one end of a stub shaft 48 which is mounted upon the swingable frame 8 for rotation about a longitudinal axis. Thus, the shaft 48 extends radially relative to the shaft 46 which is disposed concentric to the swinging axis of frame 8, and the gears cat and Mia will remain enmeshed during swinging of the frame 8 relative to the main frame I. The shaft 43, at its end remote from gear 43c, carries another bevel gear 38b which meshes with a bevel gear 42a, onone end of an upwardly inclined shaft 49. At its upper end, the shaft as extends into a gear box 47 containing meshing bevel gears 41a and t'll) secured to the shaft 49 and =33, respectively. Thus, the rotation of drive shaft 8, mounted on the main frame, is communicated to the shaft 46 on the swingable frame to drive the sprockets M on the shaft I, and the various gears are arranged so that the last mentioned shaft will rotate in the direction of the arrows on Figs. '7 and 10.

Such rotation of the shaft 46 and the sprockets 2| causes the chains 20 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. 7, and the rotation of shaft 46' is communicated to the shaft I 6 through the chains 28 and the sprockets i9 on the shaft I6. During the excavation of a ditch or profile drain, the machine travels in the direction of the arrow B on Fig. 7, and the worm sections I5 and scoops 28 act to excavate a ditch or drain having sloping. side walls as determined by the configuration of the frusto-conical worm sections. The two worm sections I5 operate to convey the earth, excavated by the cutting blades I8 on the periphery thereof, axially toward the center, and the scoops 28 act to excavate the earth in the space between the worm sections and to remove that earth along with the earth conveyed toward the center by the worm sections I5. The excavating unit is preferably disposed within a housing 44 which is formed with a lower portion 44' in theform of a dredge or plow opening in the direction indicated by the arrow B on Fig. 7 and having inclined side portions, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and5, to cut away and smooth the sloping side walls of the excavated ditch and to prevent the collapse of the side walls.

The earth removed from the excavated ditch by the scoops 28 is carried upwardly by the latter over the sprockets 2| and, as the scoops pass over these sprockets, the scoops are inverted to dump the excavated earth. In order to eject the excavated earth from the machine to a location remote from the excavated ditch, a longitudinally extending shaft32 (Fig. '7) is-rotatably mounted on 'the frame 1 and extends below the downwardly moving run of the scoops 28-. ;A helicalor screw conveyor 3| is mounted onthe shaft 32 to receive the earth dumped from the inverted scoops 28 and to convey thedumped earth-toward the end-of the machine remote from the engine 2. Aradial impeller 36 is also mounted on the shaft 32 to receive the excavated earth from the screw conveyor 3| and to hurl suchearth away from the excavated ditch. The impeller 38 preferably includes a circular disc '33 and. an annular disc 34 secured on shaft 32 in axially spaced apart relationship with the disc as defining a central opening through which the screw conveyor 3| feeds the excavated earth. The discs 33 and 3a are connected by radial paddles or blades 35 so that, as the impeller is rotated, the earth entering through the annular disc 34 is hurled radially outward by centrifugal force. The peripheral edges of the discs 33 and 34 are provided with oppositely directed axial rims Q3 and 43', respectively, to provide seats for an endless belt 35 (Figs. 8 and 9) which is in contact with a portion of the periphery of the impeller and defines the limits of an outlet opening for the centrifugally ejected earth. That is, the portion of the periphery of impeller which is not contacted by the belt provides an outlet opening between the discs 33 and 3G. The endless belt 35' is trained I over pulleys 36 and 37 which hold the belt against the rims 43 and 43'. The belt 35' is also trained over idler pulleys and Al which support the return run of the belt. As seen in Fig. 9, each of the pulleys 36, 31, 4G and ii is rotatably mounted on an axle 38, and the axle 38 is slidable in a suitable guide provided on a rigid supporting frame 50, with an adjusting screw 38 being associated with each axle to control the position of the latter in the related guide. tions of the pulleys 35 and 3'! may be varied to control the tension in the belt 35' and also to change the locations at which the belt leaves the periphery of the impeller 3e thereby providing for adjustment of the position of the outlet opening and of the angle at which the excavated earth is ejected from the machine. Accordingly, the earth entering the impeller 35 is thrown radially outward by centrifugal force and is retained within the impeller by belt 35' until it reaches the point 45 at which the belt leaves the periphery of the impeller, and at the point 45 the earth is ejected tangentially from the impeller. I

The belt 35 preferably moves at the same speed as the periphery of the impeller 38 to avoid any slippage or friction therebetween and, in the illustrated embodiment, the belt 35 is driven by frictional engagement with the rims 43 and 43' on the impeller. The shaft 32 may be rotated in any suitable manner, for example, by a sprocket 42 fixed thereon and driven by a chain 5| which is trained over a sprocket 52 on the shaft 22 within the gear box 25 (Fig. 10).

By adjusting the rotational speed of the impeller 30, it is possible to control the force with which the earth is ejected therefrom, and this adjustment along with the changes in the location of the point 45 permits varying of the distance from the machine to where the hurled earth comes to rest.

When the machine is travelling to a location at which a ditch is to be excavated, the frame 8 is raised by manipulation of the hand wheel I2, and the machine moves on its tracks 3 in the Thus, the posi- 6 direction of'the arrow-A oriFig. i, which direction is opposed to the direction of travel during the actual excavation of a ditch.

Further, by arranging the parts of the machine so that the axis of shaft I6 is substantially at the midpoints of the tracks 3, as seen in Fig. 4, it is possible to excavate a ditch along a curved course having a relatively small radius of curvature while steering the machine by varying the'relative speeds of the tracks 3. It will be readily understood that the cross-section of the excavated ditch may be varied by replacing the housing portion 44 and the worm sections l5 with similar parts of different configuration, and that the movement of the machine on the tracks 3 and the operation of the excavating and ejecting units need not be obtained from a single or common engine, as in the illustrated embodiment.

While I have described and illustrated a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be generally understood that the invention is not limited to the precise details thereof and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention which it is intended should be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a motor driven machine for excavating ditches and profile drains with sloping side walls in combination with an ejecting device for hurling the excavated earth away from the ditch or drain; the combination of a main frame, a swingable frame, means pivoting said swingable frame at one end on said main frame, a horizontal shaft journalled at its opposite ends on said swingable frame at a transverse location spaced from said pivoted end of the latter, two beveled oppositely directed worm sections of frusto-conical configuration mounted on said shaft in axially spaced relationship and with their larger threads toward the center and their smaller threads toward the outer ends of said shaft, supporting sprockets on said shaft between said worm sections, a continuous chain of excavating scoops trained over said supporting sprockets, driving sprockets rotatably supported on said swingable frame at a location above said shaft and effecting driving engagement with said continuous chain, a shield-box mounted on said swingable frame and including a portion extending around said worm sections and opening below said shaft in the direction of the feeding movement of said main frame to cut and smooth the walls of the excavated ditch and to push the excavated earth against said worm sections and said excavating scoops, and a screw conveyor member on said swingable frame extending at right angles to said shaft and positioned to receive the excavated earth from the downwardly moving run of said chain of excavating scoops and to deliver it to an earth ejecting device having an impeller rotating coaxially with said screw conveyor memher and opening at one side toward the latter to receive the excavated earth therefrom, and means extending around a portion of the circumference of said impeller to define an outlet opening through which the excavated earth may be centrifugally ejected, the last mentioned means including a member moving in the direction f the excavated earth emitting from said outlet opening at least in the proximity of said opening.

2. In a motor driven machine for excavating ditches and profile drains with sloping side walls; the combination according to claim 1, including mechanical means. on said main frame and said swinga le irame for efieetins oscillating movement of the latter to thereby selectively control the depth of the excavated ditch and to move the swingable frame between a working, lowered positiona nd a non-working, raised position.

3. In a. motor driven machine for excavating ditches and. profile drains with sloping side walls; the combination according to claim 2, wherein said mechamea-l means includes a gear segment mounted on the end of said swingable frame remote from, said pivoted end of the latter and having a pitch radius equal to the radial, distance from the axis of pivoting of said swingable frame to the pitch line of said segment, and a. gear rotatable on s id m frame and m shing with said gear segment.

GIACINTO DIOTTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 708,395 Peterson et a1 Sept. 2, 1902 789,947 Wheaton May 16, 1905 1,287,675 Greimann g Dec. 17, 1918 1,421,383 Beardsley et al. July 4, 1922 1,765,919 Heumann June 2.4, 1930 2,188,390 Williamson Jan. 30, 1940 

